Always I: Dejarik - Chapter I
“They're here.”
Jacen Solo sighed at his sister's flat words and kicked himself for finding it unexpected. After five years of preparation, why was he surprised? “I know.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “‘I know’? Is that all you're going to say? Get on the comm and find Tenel Ka. Tell her...tell her to get over here and to bring Lowie.”
“Right.”
When he didn’t move, she growled in exasperation. “Well, what are you waiting for? Do it!”
He looked at her for a long moment, not for the first time mourning the old, cheerful Jaina. “Sure, Jaya.” He nodded slowly before grabbing his comlink and doing as his twin told him. Thumbing it on, he said, “Tenel Ka?”
"Yes, friend Jacen?"
For a brief moment, Jacen’s eyes closed as he let the sound of her voice wash over him. As soon as we evacuate this place, I'm going to have to tell her how I feel, he decided. He looked up to see Jaina gathering what was left of the Jedi students into a huddle.
He sighed again, his mind drifting from the beautiful princess of Hapes. His sister had changed so much since the Empire began to take over. At nineteen, she was bowed with the responsibilities of keeping the youngest students in control. It wasn’t her strong point, but somebody had to lead after he’d taken over the administrative duties.
Besides, spending time with people who didn’t know that Jaina loved the enemy sometimes lessened the guilt. Children didn’t know how to hate, or be prejudiced. Not yet, anyway.
With effort, Jacen turned his mind back to his task. “The Nightsisters are here.”
Tenel Ka’s tone was grave. “This is a fact.”
“Jaina says to come quickly. Oh, and bring Lowie.”
“Of course.”
He knew she would end the connection then, and the Force gave him a nudge. “Tenel Ka?” he started, feeling light headed.
“Yes, friend Jacen?”
“Um…” I love you “never mind.”
Tenel Ka missed half a beat in saying, “I will meet you and friend Jaina in five minutes.”
“Right.” The young man heard her com-link click out, and he banged his hand on the nearby table. “Coward,” he muttered.
----
Aarylia Tisane, Jaina’s unofficial apprentice, looked up at her young master. “What's wrong?” she queried, untouched by the quiet panic that was spreading amongst the other students; she trusted her master and the other adult Jedi to protect her.
Jaina flashed a quick Solo grin at the small red-head and squeezed the girl's shoulder. “We're evacuating.”
Aarylia's face grew sombre as she concentrated, then her aqua eyes widened in surprise. “Evil...” she breathed. “So much Darkness.” She looked up at Jaina, wide-eyed. “They’re coming, Master.”
Jaina glanced around before kneeling. “Yeah, they are, Aarie.” She looked down, sighed, looked back up again. “I need you to be strong.”
Aarylia's chin shot up in defiance, unconsciously mimicking her Master. “They will never capture us. Never.”
“Well, we’ll do our very best to make it so.” Jaina gave the girl a last reassuring grin and then stood when she felt Lowie and Tenel Ka enter the room. The ginger furred Wookiee walked straight toward his friend, a question on his lips. Tenel Ka took her time, her athletic, willowy body encased in her lizard hide armour, as was her custom.
“Take the students and evacuate,” Jaina ordered her friends crisply, not wasting a second on pleasantries as she turned to face them. “Jacen and I will cover you.”
Tenel Ka shook her head once and pursed her lips, grey eyes promising retribution. “I shall stay also, friend Jaina. The Nightsisters are traitors of Dathomir and thus my affair.”
Jaina’s lips thinned in impatience. She had expected this. “No, Tenel Ka. Jacen and I work best as a pair. It would be awkward with you there.”
“Jeesh, Jaya,” Jacen remarked, trying to lighten the atmosphere as he came up to the group of Jedi Knights. “You're as blunt as a ronto.”
His sister’s eyes were as hard as ice. “We're in the middle of a war, Jacen. This isn’t the time to be subtle.”
Her other half shrugged and let it go. He didn’t like it, but she had a point. He half-grinned at Tenel Ka, hoping to cool the princess’ temper. “Okay then, Jay.”
Tenel Ka and Jaina glared at each other and Jacen winced at the sight of fiery brandy eyes meeting cool grey. Ever since the Darkest Knight had killed Teneniel Djo, Tenel Ka's mother, Tenel Ka had been bitter and had taken much of that hostility out on Jaina. More and more, Jacen and Lowie were caught in the middle of the equally stubborn and determined young women. Why me? he wondered, rolling his eyes at their posturing.
Suddenly, a black wave of Darkness washed over the Jedi, forcing Jaina and Tenel Ka to snap out of their clash of wills. Too many years of battle had taught them to snap out of minor conflicts immediately, no matter what the hurt.
Tenel Ka gritted her teeth. “Lowbacca and I will take the students to Hapes,” she conceded, refusing to look at Jaina, her voice clipped. “May the Force be with you.” She gave the Solo twins one last look and walked off.
Jacen watched her go, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of his stomach. For some reason, he was certain he was never going to see her again.
----
Jaina’s lightsaber whirled as she deflected blaster bolts. She was so deep in the Force that she was only vaguely aware of Jacen fighting beside her.
Finally, she felt the Nightsisters she had sensed earlier approach. Quickly, she pulled out of the Force enough to be aware of her surroundings. “How much longer until we’re good to go?” she shouted over the ping of blaster fire on durasteel and the buzz of the twins’ lightsabers.
Jacen paused to deflect several more shots before ducking behind a pillar and looking over to where Lowie and Tenel Ka were loading the Jedi students into the by now greatly-battered Rock Dragon.
Tenel Ka, seeing Jacen, yelled, “We leave in twelve minutes.”
Jacen nodded. “If we don’t get back by then, leave and we’ll take the Shadow Chaser!” Tenel Ka nodded and spun on her heel into the ship.
Jacen ducked back into the corner where Jaina was. “Twelve minutes, Jaya!”
She gave him a tiny Force-nudge to let him know that she had heard, then she lunged at one of the stormtroopers. Neither she nor Jacen needed to be distracted when the Dark warriors from Dathomir came. Sensing her plan, Jacen moved until he could defend Jaina, freeing her to work purely on offence.
Jaina had just taken care of the last stormtrooper when Tamith Kai stepped into the hallway. Jaina set her jaw and narrowed her eyes. The last time she had seen the violet-eyed Nightsister, the Jedi had also seen her youngest brother, Anakin, cut down with his own lightsaber.
“Tamith Kai.” She hoped the frelling daughter of a bantha froze from the ice in her voice.
Tamith Kai’s dark wine coloured lips curled into something that vaguely resembled a smile. “Jaina Solo. It will be my pleasure to bring you to the Emperor.”
“Over my dead body.”
The Nightsister shrugged. “That can be arranged. It would be such a pity though; I’m sure the Darkest Knight would not mind having you. He so fancies dark-haired dancing girls and perhaps with a little training you could find a place amongst his favourites…” Seeing Jaina flinch, Tamith Kai’s smile grew.
Jacen, seeking to protect his sister from even more guilt and heartache-Sith, he hated Zekk for what he had done-stepped forward. “You’re going to pay for all the Jedi you’ve killed, Tamith Kai.”
Two more Nightsisters joined Tamith Kai; the twins recognized one of them as Kumin Lai, Tamith Kai’s right hand and assassin. “We shall see, Jedi,” the leader sneered. “Tell me, how does it feel to know that your religion is dead and that you will soon join it?”
“Are you trying to babble us to death, Tamith Kai?” Jaina asked dryly, recovering from her emotional struggle. “Because it won’t work-I’m too used to Jacen’s babbling.”
Jacen turned a hurt expression on his twin. “What do you mean, you’re too used to me babbling for her babbling to have any affect on you? She babbles way more than I do!”
Jaina rolled her eyes. “This isn’t the time for us to discuss how much you babble, Wampa brain.”
“Wampa brain? What did I do to deserve this treatment? All I’ve ever done is-”
“Jacen, shut up,” Jaina said, her voice as sharp as one of Tenel Ka’s throwing blades. “We’ll talk about this later.”
“Oh, yeah, I know.” Jacen flashed her an easy grin. “I was just stalling for time. You want Tamith Kai?”
Just barely, the corners of her mouth flicked upward, softening her expression, despite her response. “Duh.” Without waiting for her brother, Jaina lunged forward, blade slashing toward the lead Nightsister’s head.
Jacen rolled his eyes and twirled his lightsaber once before following his twin into the fight. When they were side-by-side, Jacen casually said, “So, did you ever think about waiting for me?”
“Nope,” Jaina replied just as casually as she dodged a tentative thrust from Tamith Kai’s lightsaber. “You’re too slow.”
“Whatever. You’re going to get yourself killed someday, you know that?” Which, he didn’t add, he was kind of worried about.
“Hm,” was all Jaina managed to say as Tamith Kai’s attack became more ruthless and concentrated.
The twins were quiet for several minutes. Only the five lightsabers and the whine of the Rock Dragon’s engines warming up broke the silence. Jacen felt sweat begin to trickle down his back and his arms were tiring quickly. /How much longer, do you think?/ he asked to Jaina.
Jaina blocked a blow to her stomach. /Three, maybe four minutes/
/Think we can hold out that long?/
/Just-/ Jaina threw her leg out and tripped Tamith Kai, then plunged her lightsaber into the Nightsister’s heart and ran to help Jacen. /Piece of sweet cake with frill syrup/
/Nice work, Jaya/
/Thanks. Hey, where’s the third one?/
As if conjured by Jaina’s question, Kumin Lai gave an enraged cry and ran out from behind a pillar, right arm and fingers outstretched. Knowing exactly what that meant, Jaina ducked and rolled, coming up to one knee and holding her lightsaber up as protection, should the Nightsister aim the Sith lightning at her.
Jacen, who had been standing beside his twin, was not so lucky. The young man’s body soaked up the Dark electricity like a sponge taking in water, causing him to fly against the wall.
Jaina’s eyes widened and she froze in shock, but only for a moment. Flying to her feet, she raced over to Kumin Lai, only to be tackled by the other remaining Nightsister. The Jedi went down with an “oomph.”
The blue-white lightning’s flow intensified, Jacen’s agony increasing until he couldn’t even scream. Like haphazard light, images danced before his eyes - Tenel Ka’s hair, shining in the sun; his mother’s eyes; Jaina’s hand reaching out from under a ship when she asked for a tool.
“You fool!” he heard the second, anonymous Nightsister shout. “You’re not supposed to kill him!”
“Let him die,” the Kumin Lai snarled, her thoughts on Tamith Kai. “Let his sister feel our pain. Brakiss only needs the girl.”
“He wants them both alive!”
There was a sudden, powerful burst of pain and then only a tingling feeling. To Jacen’s horror, he realized the electricity had just killed his nerves. /Jaina!/ he shouted through the twin bond.
Jaina slammed the second Nightsister into the wall and raced to her twin’s aid. Her kick landed across the third Nightsister’s face. The Dark one howled in pain as Jaina continued to take her vengeance out on the woman who tried to kill Jacen.
Jacen looked up and cried a warning, but Jaina turned too late. The stun bolt hit her square in the chest and she fell with a thump. When Jacen attempted to drag his tingling, shaking body toward his other half, a blue stun bolt arced toward him and then everything faded to black.
x-x-x
Please R&R *bats eyelashes*
~ E